Graduate story: 'UHI Inverness is a close-knit academic community where staff invested in my progress'

Maximilian Nwosu studied MSc Applied Data Analytics at UHI Inverness to deepen his expertise in statistical methods while building a career in business insights and analysis.

“UHI Inverness appealed to me as an alumnus who studied Computer Science because of its supportive learning environment, the opportunity to study advanced analytics in the Highlands and the balance of theory with practical applications,” he said.

“I was inspired by the chance to gain not only technical skills but also to explore the ethical and applied dimensions of data science.”

Max said a highlight was the opportunity to apply classroom learning to real-world contexts, especially in his dissertation research on mental health data in Scotland. He particularly enjoyed working with R for statistical modelling, developing dashboards and using systematic approaches such as PRISMA for literature reviews.

“Attending UHI Inverness also meant being part of a close-knit academic community where lecturers and staff were approachable and invested in my progress. The Highlands setting itself was an added inspiration, a beautiful place to study and reflect,” he said,

“The teaching style was both rigorous and encouraging. Lecturers combined academic depth with practical examples, which made complex statistical and computational topics accessible and relevant. I felt genuinely supported throughout the course, whether through feedback on assignments or guidance during my dissertation. My supervisor, Andrew Duncan in particular, provided excellent mentorship that sharpened my academic and professional direction.

“The MSc has given me far greater confidence in my technical abilities, especially in statistical modelling, R programming and applying MLOps concepts to real data science projects. Personally, I have become more resilient and disciplined, learning how to manage intensive study while balancing professional and personal commitments. Professionally, I now feel ready to pursue roles at the intersection of data analytics, machine learning and decision science. I am equipped not only with technical skills but also with an ethical and applied perspective.”

Max now plans to build a career as a data scientist, working on projects that integrate analytics with ethical and human-centred decision-making.